Gabriel Bortoleto issues order to outspoken F1 rivals: 'That's life'

Gabriel Bortoleto has told outspoken F1 rivals to accept the current regulations after energy management fears at Silverstone. 

Owing to the 50:50 power output between the Internal Combustion Engine and the battery systems in 2026, there were fears at Silverstone from the exit of Luffield and to Stowe, the long flat-blast through Copse, Maggots, Becketts, and along the Hangar Straight would deplete the batteries and reduce top speeds.

The fears were not as bad as expected, but some drivers have been fiercely critical of the 50:50 regulation, which is to change across 2027 and 2028 to end with a 60:40 split in favour of the ICE.

Bortoleto, who finished eighth to bank Audi's first points since ninth in the season-opening Australian GP at Silverstone, reflected afterwards that drivers needed to "turn a page" and accept and "adapt" to the current product. 

"I don't think you've lost the magic of the sport, we are still driving f***ing quick through Copse, at 280kph and I am still lifting to do that corner," Bortoleto told media, including RacingNews365.

"It is not easy flat, and you're not using the grip that we have, and last year was a different [rules] concept, but I think we should turn a page.

"These are the regulations that we are living in right now, and if there are still people complaining about it, just move the page; these are the regulations we've got until 2030.

"And then in 2030, when we go to the new regulations, we will talk about it again, but we cannot spend three years talking about the same people every time.

"Because it is what we have, the cars are still fun to drive, it is different, and we need to adapt to that, and it is life."